HC Deb 08 November 1954 vol 532 cc858-9
47. Miss Lee

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an assurance to the families living in the married quarters adjoining Brinsford Lodge Hostel, Wolverhampton, that the lease of the hostel to the Malayan Government will not lead to the eviction of the families now living in the married quarters.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)

We have been fortunate to find a tenant for this hostel. The Malayan Government propose to use it as a teacher training college and the married quarters will be required for the teaching staff. Ten tenants are involved, one of whom has already arranged to leave. No question of obtaining eviction orders against the remaining nine has yet arisen because we hope to find them suitable alternative accommodation.

Miss Lee

Will the Minister say whether his reply means that these families can be assured, in order to relieve their present state of anxiety, that if alternative accommodation is not found they may continue to live in their present quarters?

Mr. Lloyd

The assurance that I can give the hon. Lady is that these cases will be dealt with sympathetically, and we hope very much that we shall be able to find suitable alternative accommodation. It has to be remembered that the bringing in of 300 students and an administrative and teaching staff of some 40 people is of very great benefit to the people of the locality.

Miss Lee

No one is more sympathetic than myself to having colonial students in this country surrounded by a friendly atmosphere, but is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this hostel already takes away accommodation in a hard-pressed industrial and mining area, and does he not think that if he could leave these few families in their present quarters that would be a very good contribution towards making a more welcome atmosphere for these students, and at the same time relieve pressure on the local authority?

Mr. Lloyd

I am fully aware of the facts, but several people are concerned— the Malayan Government, the local authority and the Ministry of Supply. I can assure the hon. Lady that we shall try to sort this matter out on a sympathetic basis.